Bucket Brigade paints the town Saturday; total of 19 houses done

Local woman grateful for second paint job

Nathan Woodside, For the Telegraph

Published
7:56 pm CDT, Saturday, May 13, 2017

Rhonda Brinkman, a volunteer with the Junior Service League of Greater Alton, balances on a ladder while painting the home of Wanda Atwood in the 1600 block of Clawson Street Saturday morning. Brinkman was part of the Service League’s Bucket Brigade team. It’s the 30th year Pride Inc. has assembled volunteer crews to paint Alton-area homes and buildings that have fading colors. The paint is donated by Sherwin-Williams. less

Rhonda Brinkman, a volunteer with the Junior Service League of Greater Alton, balances on a ladder while painting the home of Wanda Atwood in the 1600 block of Clawson Street Saturday morning. Brinkman was part ... more

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Rhonda Brinkman, a volunteer with the Junior Service League of Greater Alton, balances on a ladder while painting the home of Wanda Atwood in the 1600 block of Clawson Street Saturday morning. Brinkman was part of the Service League’s Bucket Brigade team. It’s the 30th year Pride Inc. has assembled volunteer crews to paint Alton-area homes and buildings that have fading colors. The paint is donated by Sherwin-Williams. less

Rhonda Brinkman, a volunteer with the Junior Service League of Greater Alton, balances on a ladder while painting the home of Wanda Atwood in the 1600 block of Clawson Street Saturday morning. Brinkman was part ... more

Bucket Brigade paints the town Saturday; total of 19 houses done

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ALTON — Wanda Atwood has lived at her home in the 1600 block of Clawson St. in Upper Alton for 55 years. She clearly remembers the day in 1991 when a kindly group of charitable Pride Inc. upstarts called the “Bucket Brigade” showed up on her front lawn, brushes in hand, and made the home look brand new again.

“I remember it, because that was the year my husband had cancer,” she says, solemnly. It was a lot to deal with, and the gesture during the tough time touched her.

Over the next 26 years, the elements took its toll on the 85-year-old widow’s home, and the job had slowly faded into craquelure.

Atwood had no way to pay for a refresh. She takes to professional ironing in her basement just to keep up on medical bills.

But, on Saturday, the Bucket Brigade returned.

“I enjoyed their company, and they did an A - No. 1 job,” Atwood said Saturday evening. “I just thank them for their time and their patience to do the work. I just wish there was more people like them, to help people when they get old and don’t have anybody.”

It’s just one of countless heartwarming stories that Pride Inc. volunteer Dale Neudecker could tell since he started the Bucket Brigade program 30 years ago. He adds a few more memories to the list every year.

Neudecker recalls an elderly woman whose house was painted by a brigade of young, married couples who brought along their children.

“When I got there by the afternoon, she told me that it had been one of the best days of her life,” he recalls.

Like Atwood, the woman was a repeat customer more than a decade later.

“Sometimes it’s more than just the paint,” Neudecker said. “It’s also giving them the company.”

Neudecker started The Bucket Brigade, teams of volunteers assigned to a worthy paint project, when he first became president of Pride Inc. He says he just wanted to find a way to make the town look its best.

“Even when I started this 30 years ago, they told me it’d never work,” he said. “Nobody likes to paint. But I think it’s different when you’re out there helping someone who can’t afford it or can’t do it themselves. Our volunteers just keep coming back year after year. I’m very proud of them.”

In first 29 years, the brigade painted 1,407 houses, from Jerseyville to South Roxana.

More than 30 will be added to that figure this year, when it’s all said and done. There were 19 houses painted Saturday, and all were done ahead of schedule thanks to sunny skies and balmy temperatures.

Atwood’s Bucket Brigade team on Saturday was a new group of volunteers from the Junior Service League of Greater Alton.

Rhonda Brinkman, a member of the chapter’s community outreach committee, said that The Bucket Brigade fit in perfectly as new project for the women’s organization to try.

“It’s something that I’ve seen in the community for many years, and something I’ve always wanted to be a part of,” she said. “We had a large enough group of women who were willing to come out and spend their morning, so we asked to get a house.”

Brinkman said it felt especially good to make a difference for someone like Atwood.

“It feels great to help her,” she said.

Neudecker says it might not be too late to volunteer. Bucket Brigades groups still have work to do. Several groups with scheduling conflicts on Saturday planned to paint over the next week or two. And, of course, he could always use new volunteers for Year 31.

“Just let me know!,” he exclaimed.

Pride Inc. can be contacted at 618-467-2375.

Anyone who would like more information on The Junior Service League of Greater Alton can find them on Facebook or visit www.juniorleaguealton.org.

Sherwin Williams provides the paint for the Bucket Brigade program. The Telegraph is a co-sponsor.

Nathan Woodside is a freelance photographer and reporter for the Telegraph.